JEDDAH, 7 January 2008 — Abdul Nasser Maadani, chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Kerala, has been campaigning for the rights and causes of Muslims and other minorities as well as oppressed groups like Dalits for nearly two decades. It was this drive to help India’s minority groups that led Hindu extremists, known as the Sangh Parivar, to try murdering him in 1992. He survived that assassination attempt but lost his right leg. Later when the Coimbatore serial blasts took place in 1998, he was accused, without any evidence, of masterminding a terrorist operation aimed at killing then Home Minister L.K. Advani. For this, Maadani spent nine-and-a-half years in jail, without charge or trial.

Maadani came to Saudi Arabia last month to perform Haj and thank God for helping him leave the top security prison in Tamil Nadu. Haj gave the human rights activist an opportunity to forget his past miseries and muster energy to work to spread the peaceful message of Islam, strengthening Muslim unity, promoting communal harmony and enhancing the welfare of the whole humanity.

“Muslims in India should change their attitude and way of life in order to win the hearts of Hindus and other communities, and open a new era of peace and communal harmony in the country,” he told Arab News.

Maadani, however, voiced his concern over Hindu extremists gaining ground in India and called upon secularist parties, including Congress and Leftists, to draw a strategy to stop the advance of the Bharatiya Janatha Party (BJP) by holding firm to their secularist ideology and making necessary adjustments to strengthen their alliance. Maadani was unhappy with the political situation in his home state, Kerala. He emphasized the prospects of establishing a third political alliance, as people of the state became fed up with the Leftist Democratic Front led by Marxists and the United Democratic Front led by Congress.

Maadani argued that the Congress Party’s policies to appease Hindu extremists had contributed to the victory of Narendra Modi in Gujarat. “Congress should announce its secularist stand in clear and categorical manner. Other parties should be ready to make adjustments in order to strengthen secular forces in the country. If this does not happen I am afraid the danger of fascism will spread in the country,” he added. He also warned that the BJP would experiment the “Modi model” in other states by triggering communal riots, like they did in Gujarat, to win political power.

Madaani, who is also an Islamic scholar, urged Muslims to uphold their faith. “You will be superior if you are (true) believers,” he said quoting a verse from the Holy Qur’an. “We should strengthen our faith in Islam and disseminate its fragrance to other people in the country by leading an exemplary life,” he said.

“If Muslims abide by the teachings of Islam it would change the whole situation. It would strengthen their unity and remove their internal differences,” he added.

Many people came to the fold of Islam after being impressed by the life and behavior of their Muslim friends. “One speech of Khwaja Muinuddin Chishti encouraged thousands of Hindus to embrace Islam. Because Sufis like him were living examples of Islam. They were able to make changes in hearts. One thing is sure that if our message is from the heart it can win over hearts. If Muslims return to Islam it will be the beginning of a new golden era,” he explained.

The Indian Muslim leader was all praises for Saudi Arabia’s efforts to enhance the welfare and safety of pilgrims and develop the Two Holy Mosques. He praised the initiatives taken by Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah to unite Palestinian factions. “Saudi Arabia can do more to strengthen Muslim unity, especially in narrowing differences among Muslim countries,” he said.

“I have taken a pledge that I will not make a speech or write an article that would create division and disunity among Muslims. This is an agreement I have made with God. I am now very careful in using words when make statements, despite the provocations made by some individuals and parties.”

For Maadani, Haj was the realization of a dream that he has been cherishing for several years.

“I used to pray to have an opportunity to perform this religious duty every Haj season and sacrifice an animal every Haj season with the help of a relative in Madinah during the last five years,” he said. “Standing in front of the Holy Kaaba for the first time was the happiest moment in my life.”